Geelong has taken the long and hard way to arrived at week three of the finals.

A surprise loss to Fremantle at home in their first finals’ game a fortnight ago (72 – 87), saw them face off against Port Adelaide last week in an elimination final.

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A slow start and poor second quarter had Geelong behind by 23 points at the major break and their season hanging by a thread but, a five goal to one third quarter, helped the Cats regain the lead and taking that momentum into the final quarter, they were able to hold off Port’s late challenge and record a 16 point victory (96 – 80).

Again it was an example of Geelong producing their best quarters at a time rather than the entire match. Up against a rested and complete Hawthorn outfit, a similar performance to that of the past two weeks will not be good enough.

Minor Premiers Hawthorn earned last week off after impressively disposing of Sydney in week one of the finals 105 – 51.

That performance only enhanced Hawthorn’s favouritism for this year’s Premiership Flag and with Geelong coming off three tough games in as many weeks and, losing inspirational leading Paul Chapman due to suspension, Hawthorn, with the benefit of resting last week will field a strong, fit and fresh side.

Remarkably, Geelong has won the past eleven matches between the two clubs. Nine of those victories were by a margin of ten points or less including the four most recent clashes when Geelong started as outsiders in betting markets on each occasion.

It’s now or never for Hawthorn to break “Kennett’s curse” and they have no excuse not to.

Really watch for them to assert their dominance in the second half of the match and, as they did against Sydney, be able to pull away from Geelong and cover the 13.5 line in the process.

Odds Comparison by AFL odds:

Hawthorn Hawks	1.45	1.38	1.41	1.38	1.45	1.40
Geelong Cats	2.80	3.05	3.00	3.05	2.80	2.85

Teams:

Hawthorn Hawks:
B:B Stratton B Lake B Guerra
HB: S Burgoyne J Gibson G Birchall
C: I Smith S Mitchell J Hill
HF: L Breust L Franklin J Gunston
F: P Puopolo J Roughead C Rioli
FOLL: D Hale B Sewell L Hodge
I/C: J Lewis M Bailey B Whitecross L Shiels
EMG: M Spangher J Anderson K Cheney
IN: L Franklin C Rioli
OUT: M Spangher (omitted) J Anderson (omitted)

Geelong Cats:
B:J Rivers T Lonergan J Hunt
HB: A Mackie, H Taylor J Bartel
C: J Kelly J Selwood M Stokes
HF: A Christensen N Vardy S Motlop
F: J Podsiadly T Hawkins J Caddy
FOLL: M Blicavs M Duncan S Johnson
I/C: J Corey C Guthrie J Murdoch T Varcoe
EMG: T Hunt S Kersten T West
IN: Caddy, Murdoch
OUT: Chapman (suspended), T Hunt (omitted)